Re: Re: Dr Pashman .... Research.... (Ken)

[Guest guest]

It's not so mind boggling Ken. As I have said on here many times, I did HEAVY research into revision specialists after I went ahead and had a revision done the first time by a doctor "close to home" whom I trusted and believed knew her stuff, only to end up in worse shape than when I started. I also checked into Dr. Pashman here in L.A. and found that while he is most certainly an excellent orthopedic doctor, he was not necessarily a qualified revision specialist.

It has been several years now since you began seeking help on here with regards to a revision specialist Ken; you've watched many of us go through our own surgeries and you've gotten the names and locations of all of the specialists that are out there (to our knowledge) and yet you still seem to insist of obtaining one within driving distance of your home. I too live in Southern California Ken, and I too would have liked to have had my surgery done locally. But I accepted the fact that there were just 2 doctors within my reach, so I went to both for their opinions. And when I did go ahead with having it done in San Francisco, my family couldn't put a stop to their lives to travel so far from home to be with me. So I sucked it up and had the surgery done.....twice.....all by my lonesome self. I was in bad enough shape to where I didn't have any other options. So, I can only assume that you haven't yet hit that point - the point where your quality of life is so poor that you are more than ready for the surgery; more than ready to have to travel for it; more than ready to put your life on hold until you heal. When you actually go to see either Dr. Hu, Berven, or LaGrone, then we will know that you are getting close.

Oh, and has any doctor actually told you that you are a candidate for revision surgery? Or are you just anticipating that will most likely be what your future holds in store for you.

My Best -

~~

[Guest guest]

Ken,

I hope you realize that this is written in an attempt to help you.

It's not "mind boggling" ( your words) if you are ready to accept your situation.

Revision is very complicated, serious surgery requiring special skills and years of extra training. A revision specialist is to scoliosis as an astronaut is to flying. There just are not very many who have the years of extra training and expertise to do the job properly. It is not surprising that there would be none in LA.

You say you are in "research mode" You have been in research mode for months and months and months. It does not take that long to find a qualified doctor. I know you've been busy with the move and earning a living. We are all busy. After finding this site, it does not take several months to find a qualified doctor, no matter who you are. Obviously, some of us think you don't want to hear what we have said. It sounds to me that, rather than being in research mode, you are actually in denial mode. No? Well, you will need at least 2 opinions, from qualified doctors. Possibly even 3 if the 2 differ. Make an appointment with Dr. Hu, Br. Bervan or any of the others we have mentioned and ask them for a referral to someone as qualified as they are, in the LA area. You have said that you are in too much pain to travel to SF. Well, that just does not fly here. Not on this site. So many of us have traveled in excruciating pain to get the help we needed. You can do that, too. If you do ever travel for help, we can give you all sorts of ways to make travelling bearable.

We have tried very hard to help you, but you just don't seem to want to take advantage of our experiences. You need to realize that all of us have better things to do than sit here at the computer and browbeat a fellow member. So, instead of getting angry at us, perhaps it's time for you to look inward to find out why you are having a hard time here and a hard time finding a doctor.

Bonnie

[ ] Re: Dr Pashman .... Research.... (Ken)

Hello ,Forgive me, but I would prefer being told Facts rather than opinions. While I value your opinion, and I appreciate the fact that you have spent hours researching and are willing to share your opinion, I think I need to know WHY you have formed your opinion. For example:How many revision surgeries has each Dr performed & with what level of success? Please note the tone of this email is that of someone who is completley blessed to have found this group..As I have said many times, I am willing to travel to see a specialist if that is what I need to do.. When I spoke with Dr Pashmans office, they told me he has done about 50 post harrington rod revision surgeries in the past year - that seems like a lot of revisions to me... I am asking for referrals, etc.. I have already found a handful of people that have used him and they are happy with the results.I'm not ruling out going to UCSF or ?? I'm just not ready to accept that there are only 5-7 Top Doctors who can help me.. As and others have said many times, these are not the only doctors worth seeing..Please share with me what (Specifically) formed your opinions that resulted in your not chosing Dr Pashman and why you chose Dr Hu.To your question: Yes, Dr. Akbarnia in La Jolla told me I was a candidate for revision, but that I only have slight flat back.Many thanks for sharing with me, Ken.>> It's not so mind boggling Ken. As I have said on here many times, I did > HEAVY research into revision specialists after I went ahead and had a revision > done the first time by a doctor "close to home" whom I trusted and believed > knew her stuff, only to end up in worse shape than when I started. I also > checked into Dr. Pashman here in L.A. and found that while he is most certainly > an excellent orthopedic doctor, he was not necessarily a qualified revision > specialist. > It has been several years now since you began seeking help on here with > regards to a revision specialist Ken; you've watched many of us go through our > own surgeries and you've gotten the names and locations of all of the > specialists that are out there (to our knowledge) and yet you still seem to insist of > obtaining one within driving distance of your home. I too live in Southern > California Ken, and I too would have liked to have had my surgery done > locally. But I accepted the fact that there were just 2 doctors within my reach, so > I went to both for their opinions. And when I did go ahead with having it > done in San Francisco, my family couldn't put a stop to their lives to travel > so far from home to be with me. So I sucked it up and had the surgery > done.....twice.....all by my lonesome self. I was in bad enough shape to where I > didn't have any other options. So, I can only assume that you haven't yet hit > that point - the point where your quality of life is so poor that you are > more than ready for the surgery; more than ready to have to travel for it; more > than ready to put your life on hold until you heal. When you actually go to > see either Dr. Hu, Berven, or LaGrone, then we will know that you are > getting close.> Oh, and has any doctor actually told you that you are a candidate for > revision surgery? Or are you just anticipating that will most likely be what your > future holds in store for you.> My Best -> ~~>

[Guest guest]

I have to agree. I’m REALLY suspicious of that number. I don’t think any of the top specialsts even do that many.

--

On 1/12/07 8:44 PM, " cammaltby " <cammaltby@...> wrote:

Hi Ken,

I know your post wasn't addressed to me...but I am thinking that 50

revisions of prior HR...sounds amazingly high...and given that in

this forums, and others that I read, nary a Pashman patient posting.

Either they are pulling your leg or each and every one of them is

finding him without reference to the internet and not one of them is

having any post-op problems. Sounds to good to be true, but for your

sake I hope it is.

[Guest guest]

Hi , I'm blown away at your post... I only wanted to discuss my confusion and to seek clarity. Perhaps I am not making it clear that I appreciate you and everyone here. I'm sorry if I failed to be clear. I guess I need to step back and re-group... Please accept my apology, I will let you all know how things progress - please keep me in your prayers. Ken. <Dawg@...> wrote: Ken -You misinterpret what I said here.....I in NO way have shared or even offered to share any opinion with you - I simply stated facts, plain and simple. And you want me to compare Dr. Pashman with Dr. Hu for you?? Oh please. FACT: as previously stated, he most probably is a very skilled orthopod. But as a skilled revision specialist he's not even in the same BALLpark as Dr. Hu. FACT: as also been stated to you on MANY different occasions, there are probably many orthos out there who can and will do your revision for you when necessary - many that we in this forum are unaware of. FACT: because we are unaware of them doesn't mean that they are specifically not good surgeons - it just means that nobody IN THIS FORUM has heard of anyone else that has had revisions done by that specific doctor. FACT: Everyone here has shared what they can with you to help you along, and have informed you of the best

revision surgeons TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE that you should see in consultation. Yet you insist there must be others - others that will be "within driving distance" for you to see.LAST FACT: You are free to see whomever you want to see Ken. And form your OWN opinions, instead of trying to milk them out of others. What difference would it make for you to know why I chose Dr. Hu over any others? That certainly wouldn't make YOU decide to go see her! Everyone on here had seen several doctors before making their decisions. Would you want to know from them all WHY they chose whom they did?Good luck to you Ken. Just think....if you have Pashman do your surgery, then you will be the first to be his spokesman for revision surgery here in this forum!> >> > It's not so mind boggling Ken. As I have said on here many times, > I did > > HEAVY research into

revision specialists after I went ahead and > had a revision > > done the first time by a doctor "close to home" whom I trusted > and believed > > knew her stuff, only to end up in worse shape than when I > started. I also > > checked into Dr. Pashman here in L.A. and found that while he is > most certainly > > an excellent orthopedic doctor, he was not necessarily a > qualified revision > > specialist. > > It has been several years now since you began seeking help on here > with > > regards to a revision specialist Ken; you've watched many of us go > through our > > own surgeries and you've gotten the names and locations of all of > the > > specialists that are out there (to our knowledge) and yet you > still seem to insist of > > obtaining one within driving distance of your home. I too live

> in Southern > > California Ken, and I too would have liked to have had my surgery > done > > locally. But I accepted the fact that there were just 2 doctors > within my reach, so > > I went to both for their opinions. And when I did go ahead with > having it > > done in San Francisco, my family couldn't put a stop to their > lives to travel > > so far from home to be with me. So I sucked it up and had the > surgery > > done.....twice.....all by my lonesome self. I was in bad enough > shape to where I > > didn't have any other options. So, I can only assume that you > haven't yet hit > > that point - the point where your quality of life is so poor that > you are > > more than ready for the surgery; more than ready to have to > travel for it; more > > than ready to put your life on

hold until you heal. When you > actually go to > > see either Dr. Hu, Berven, or LaGrone, then we will know that you > are > > getting close.> > Oh, and has any doctor actually told you that you are a candidate > for > > revision surgery? Or are you just anticipating that will most > likely be what your > > future holds in store for you.> > My Best -> > ~~> >>

8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time with the Search movie showtime shortcut.

[Guest guest]

Hi, A lot lf my pain is from having several herniated discs - ranging from 3-6cm.. plus the pulling of my body to straighten and I have shrunk 3 inches... At my PCP the other day - he told me that in 18months I went from being 5'10" 293LBS to 5'8" 218LBS... At my tallest I was 6' - but since I started having pain I was 5'11".......... Thank you, Ken.SB <bahadreama@...> wrote: I think you have a good point about being in

denial. I have been on this message board for 5 years now, and I still keep hoping that if I can only exercise and get in shape, I won't really need more surgery.That said, I have to wonder why Ken is in so much pain if he only has a slight case of flatback. Perhaps what he really needs is a good pain management doctor instead of a surgeon.

Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Small Business.

[Guest guest]

I spoke with Jenni at Dr Pashmans office on Friday the 12th - I asked her to give me the # of flatback revision surgeries that Dr Pashman has done in the past 24 months on people who were post Harrington Rod patients... She called me and said 50 in the past year.. she said that is what they focus on their practice on... Anyway, as stated - I'm cancelling my appt. Ken. <Dawg@...> wrote: So true . Which can only mean one of two

things...either Pashman's office is elaborating (which I find extremely doubtful) or that number was just picked out of a hat to try and impress us. Either way, I think we ALL know perfectly well (or at least most of us do) that there is no way that figure of 50 revisions could possibly be feasible. And especially by someone who isn't even known for doing ONE!~the West Coast Lurker~> > > Hi Ken,> > > > I know your post wasn't addressed to me...but I am thinking that 50> > revisions of

prior HR...sounds amazingly high...and given that in> > this forums, and others that I read, nary a Pashman patient posting.> > Either they are pulling your leg or each and every one of them is> > finding him without reference to the internet and not one of them is> > having any post-op problems. Sounds to good to be true, but for your> > sake I hope it is.> >> __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi there, Yes, all of the herniated discs are all below the fusion. They are at levels, L3 (3cm), L4 (5cm) & L5 (6cm) - from what I can remember. The Dr was amazed that they were not causing more pain than they are.. But this is why I have a hard time sitting or walking.. My problem (currently) is not a large forward lean, infact, It is not enough that people notice it... As for my appt with Dr Pashman, I am canceling the appt for a few reasons, none of which have to do with anyone here suggesting he is Not a qualified doctor, I have put hours of research into this decision and concluded that if I do see a "local" Dr, I will stick with Dr. Akbarnia - otherwise, I am looking into Dr's Hu, Berven (sp?) & La Grone.. Take care, Ken. SB <bahadreama@...> wrote: Congratulations on the weight loss, Ken and thanks for the clarification.I take it these discs that are herniated are below your fusion? In that case, you might be risking changing a slight case of flatback into a more sever case if you simply had those discs fused.I don't think anybody was suggesting that you cancel your appointment with Dr Pashman, just that you ask him a lot of questions when you see him.

I think one reason why people seem to be frustrated is that you seem to ask the same questions over and over without ever asking a doctor.Of course, all this is just my opinion.> I think you have a good point about being in denial. I have been on > this message board for 5 years now, and I

still keep hoping that if I > can only exercise and get in shape, I won't really need more surgery.> > That said, I have to wonder why Ken is in so much pain if he only has a > slight case of flatback. Perhaps what he really needs is a good pain > management doctor instead of a surgeon.> > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Get your own web address.> Have a HUGE year through Small Business.>

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[Guest guest]

Why did Dr. Pashman tell you you needed revision surgery ?Why didn’t he correct the problem during the initial surgery?

Phyllis Ponvert

From: jstfrankie <Jstie@...>

Reply-< >

Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 05:29:09 -0000

< >

Subject: [ ] Re: Dr Pashman .... Research.... (Ken)

I just wanted comment one more time on Dr. Pashman just to

make it clear on my personal experience with him as a very

good " orthopedic surgeon " NOT a specialist in scoliosis revision

surgeries, at least as of 1994.

As I posted earlier in 1994 Dr. Pashman did perform a anterior and

posterior lumbar fusion on me in Los Angeles. He was painstakingly

thorough to the point of almost exhausting me with preoperative

testing physically and psychologically. The surgery went great with

no complications, and several months after the surgery he mentioned

to me that he would like to do a revision on me, but since he

indicated I would also need halo traction again, I kindly declined.

But I never forgot his confidence and honesty. But I've not seen him

now since 1995, I do not know or have heard anything about if he is

actively performing scoliosis revision surgeries.

What I do know is this, that sometime in 2001 I wrote him a letter

explaining to him that I thought my scoliosis was getting worse and

that I would like to reconsider his offer for performing revision

surgery. A couple weeks later I received a letter from Dr. Pashman

telling me that he had now changed his mind and that the revision

surgery would be much to complex even the risk of death. He further

went on to say very humbly (for a surgeon) that basically though he

wanted to help me he knows now he was not qualified AT THAT TIME.

(Not an exact quote) but I did feel it was admirable for him to

simply admit something like that. I also know that, (at least in

1994) he had no problems with referring patients or calling in for

assistance in the surgery. When I received his letter I was

disappointed yet relieved to know that he admitted that he did not

want to get in over his head. (Again I reiterate this was in 2001) I

also know that he was a good friend of Dr. Bradford and referred a

lot of his patients to Dr. Bradford. So as an " orthopedic surgeon "

not a scoliosis revision surgeon specialist I think that Dr. Pashman

is a great way to get started to get a referral if nothing else. In

my own life I personally need someone like Dr. Boachie or possibly

the folks in San Francisco that are specialist.

Unfortunately just a few months later my mother called me and told me

that she had seen this scoliosis surgeon by the name of Shelokov on

the television program Good Morning America and that he said they

were doing some remarkable new things in scoliosis revision surgery.

He even had one of his patients on the television program with him.

My mother sent me the videotape and I promptly went to his web site,

where ... Well , I just wished I would have known more instead of

being so desperate... definitely the wrong choice. Has anyone else

had any experiences with Dr. Shelokov?

> > >

> > > > Hi Ken,

> > > >

> > > > I know your post wasn't addressed to me...but I am thinking

> that

> > 50

> > > > revisions of prior HR...sounds amazingly high...and given

that

> in

> > > > this forums, and others that I read, nary a Pashman patient

> > posting.

> > > > Either they are pulling your leg or each and every one of

them

> is

> > > > finding him without reference to the internet and not one of

> > them is

> > > > having any post-op problems. Sounds to good to be true, but

> for

> > your

> > > > sake I hope it is.

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >